The U.S. State Department has expressed increasing concern over potential breaches of international humanitarian law involving American-supplied weapons in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The report submitted to Congress highlighted instances where it is “reasonable to assess” that these arms may have been used in ways that are “inconsistent” with Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law (IHL). Despite these concerns, the U.S. acknowledged that complete information was not available and decided that weapon shipments to Israel could continue.
The report, which also examined the use of U.S. weapons in other conflicts, noted the challenges posed by Hamas’s tactics, such as using civilian infrastructure for military purposes and employing civilians as human shields. This has made it difficult to determine the legitimacy of targets in the war zone. While Israel has been recognized for having the knowledge and tools to mitigate civilian harm, the report found that the outcomes, including high levels of civilian casualties, suggest these practices might not be effectively implemented in all scenarios.
The U.S. report also mentioned issues with Israel’s cooperation in maximizing humanitarian aid to Gaza in the early stages of the conflict, though it noted improvements in this area over time. The release of the report follows President Joe Biden’s threats to withhold certain military aids if Israel proceeded with an operation in Rafah, a densely populated area and a stronghold of Hamas. The situation remains tense, with significant displacement reported in Rafah and continued military activities in the area.
